diff --git a/youtube_dl/YoutubeDL.py b/youtube_dl/YoutubeDL.py
index 57f52f888..7eb0edf26 100755
--- a/youtube_dl/YoutubeDL.py
+++ b/youtube_dl/YoutubeDL.py
@@ -354,6 +354,7 @@ class YoutubeDL(object):
         self.params = {
             # Default parameters
             'nocheckcertificate': False,
+            'ciphers': None,
         }
         self.params.update(params)
         self.cache = Cache(self)
diff --git a/youtube_dl/__init__.py b/youtube_dl/__init__.py
index 9d4859bcf..01e5280e4 100644
--- a/youtube_dl/__init__.py
+++ b/youtube_dl/__init__.py
@@ -397,6 +397,7 @@ def _real_main(argv=None):
         'download_archive': download_archive_fn,
         'cookiefile': opts.cookiefile,
         'nocheckcertificate': opts.no_check_certificate,
+        'ciphers': opts.ciphers,
         'prefer_insecure': opts.prefer_insecure,
         'proxy': opts.proxy,
         'socket_timeout': opts.socket_timeout,
diff --git a/youtube_dl/options.py b/youtube_dl/options.py
index 1ffabc62b..9006019d0 100644
--- a/youtube_dl/options.py
+++ b/youtube_dl/options.py
@@ -535,6 +535,10 @@ def parseOpts(overrideArguments=None):
         '--no-check-certificate',
         action='store_true', dest='no_check_certificate', default=False,
         help='Suppress HTTPS certificate validation')
+    workarounds.add_option(
+        '--ciphers',
+        metavar='CIPHERS', dest='ciphers',
+        help='Set SSL cipher list')
     workarounds.add_option(
         '--prefer-insecure',
         '--prefer-unsecure', action='store_true', dest='prefer_insecure',
diff --git a/youtube_dl/utils.py b/youtube_dl/utils.py
index 71713f63a..f7b997e2c 100644
--- a/youtube_dl/utils.py
+++ b/youtube_dl/utils.py
@@ -696,8 +696,11 @@ def formatSeconds(secs):
 
 def make_HTTPS_handler(params, **kwargs):
     opts_no_check_certificate = params.get('nocheckcertificate', False)
+    opts_ciphers = params.get('ciphers')
     if hasattr(ssl, 'create_default_context'):  # Python >= 3.4 or 2.7.9
         context = ssl.create_default_context(ssl.Purpose.SERVER_AUTH)
+        if opts_ciphers:
+            context.set_ciphers(opts_ciphers)
         if opts_no_check_certificate:
             context.check_hostname = False
             context.verify_mode = ssl.CERT_NONE
@@ -716,6 +719,8 @@ def make_HTTPS_handler(params, **kwargs):
                                if opts_no_check_certificate
                                else ssl.CERT_REQUIRED)
         context.set_default_verify_paths()
+        if opts_ciphers:
+            context.set_ciphers(opts_ciphers)
         return YoutubeDLHTTPSHandler(params, context=context, **kwargs)